Semenovskoe gorge kyrgyzstan on the map. Issyk-Kul

GORGONS

Barskoon Gorge

Barskaun Gorge (Barsovo Gorge) is located on south coast Lake Issyk-Kul in the floodplain of the river of the same name. The length of the gorge is about 10 km. The gorge is famous for its waterfalls. One of the most famous is "Leopard's Tears". In addition to the “Leopard's Tears” waterfall, three more are noteworthy: “Aksakal's beard”, “Champagne splashes” and “Manas bowl”. The latter, according to legend, was formed after Manas scooped up water with his hand, and from this a bowl remained in the rock. In the middle part of the gorge there is a monument to the first cosmonaut Yu. A. Gagarin, who loved this place very much and rested in the nearby military sanatorium Tamga. , and on sunny days, small grains of golden sand sparkle along their shores.

Boom Gorge

The picturesque Boom Gorge is located in the middle reaches of the Chu River on the border of the ridges Kyrgyz Ala-Too and Kungei Ala-Too. The length of the gorge is about 30 km. The Boom gorge connects the Chui valley with the Issyk-Kul basin and is a kind of calling card on the way to Issyk-Kul lake. Before entering the Boom Gorge, there is a spring where tourists usually stop before starting a dangerous climb. In the gorge itself there is a monument dedicated to the uprising of 1916. The nature of Boom is very diverse. In its upper part, gently sloping forms predominate, the river floodplain is quite wide and covered with dense vegetation. The lower part of the gorge is a narrow canyon, where the river winds its way through steep cliffs.

Jety-Oguz Gorge

Jety-Oguz or the Rocks of the Seven Bulls is a picturesque mountain gorge in Kyrgyzstan, 28 km west of the city of Karakol (formerly Przhevalsk) along the southern coast of Issyk-Kul. The Jety-Oguz Gorge is located in the floodplain of the river of the same name on the northern slope of the Terskey Ala-Too ridge from the south around Lake Issyk-Kul.

The Jety-Oguz gorge (translated from Kyrgyz as “seven bulls”) is located 25 km southwest of Karakol. It is covered with lush vegetation with a monumental ridge of red rocks. These rocks are so unusual and magnificent that they were depicted on Soviet postage stamps issued in 1968. Such unusual name"Seven Bulls" originated from the red rocks at the entrance to the gorge, the length of which is 37 km. In the gorge at an altitude of 2200 m is the Jety-Oguz resort, famous for its healing geothermal springs. Another notable rock is the famous Broken Heart, a place of real pilgrimage for lovers.

Semyonovskoe gorge

The Semyonovskoye Gorge is a gorge in Kyrgyzstan in the Kungei Ala-Too mountains. The old Kyrgyz name is Kyrchyn.On the north coast Issyk-Kul 40 km from the resort town Cholpon-Ata North of the village of Semyonovka is one of the most beautiful places in the Issyk-Kul region - the Semyonov Gorge. The length of the gorge is about 30 km. A stormy mountain river Ak-Suu flows along the bottom of the gorge with the purest glacial water, and majestic Tien Shan firs rise on the slopes. in spring and summer periods clean mountain air is filled with aromas of alpine herbs.

The Semenov Gorge is one of the sights of Kyrgyzstan and is one of the must-see tours for tourists vacationing in Issyk-Kul. In summer, yurts are set up here, where everyone can taste the dishes of the Kyrgyz national cuisine: beshbarmak, koumiss, etc. For lovers of horseback riding, horseback riding is organized along the gorge.

Grigorievskoe Gorge (Chon-Ak-Suu)

Grigorievskoe Gorge is located 60 kilometers from the city of Cholpon-Ata. The Chon-Ak-Suu valley descends from the Kungei Ala-Too ridge near the village of Grigorievka. The gentle slopes of the valley are covered with dense spruce forest. The length of the valley is 35 kilometers. Crystal clear glacial water rushes along the bottom of the gorge. The middle part of the valley is crowned by two snow peaks: Kum-Bel peak (4200 m.) and Eshenbulak peak (4647 m.). In the gorge there are three most beautiful mountain lakes. Due to the gentle slope of the gorge, all landscape belts are pronounced and have a greater extent than in other Kungei Ala-Too valleys.

Grigorievskoe gorge is considered one of the most picturesque in the Issyk-Kul region. Here, from the end of June to the end of September, yurts gather, which offer a variety of services, so you will have the opportunity to get in touch with the traditions and culture of the Kyrgyz, the nomadic way of life. Here you can also walk or ride a horse, enjoying the surrounding nature, see demonstrations of handicraft art and the art of horsemanship, listen to folk music, drink koumiss and even participate in the installation of a yurt.

Kegety Gorge

Another of the most beautiful gorges in Kyrgyzstan, the Kegety gorge is located on the northern side of the Kyrgyz Range, 90 kilometers from the city of Bishkek. Due to its scenic beauty, it is very interesting and attractive for tourists. A turbulent river of the same name flows through the Kegety gorge.

The slopes of the gorge are mainly covered with steppe tall-grass meadows, as well as forest and artisanal trees. Many useful medicinal herbs grow on the slopes of the gorge. These are herbs such as sage, succession, St. John's wort, marshmallow, medicinal thyme and other useful plants. Also, the slopes of the mountains are rich in a variety of wild berries. Here you can find strawberries, drupes, blueberries and other berries.

This gorge, like other gorges in Kyrgyzstan, is not deprived of the most important thing - a waterfall. It is the presence of a waterfall that always attracts tourists. The waterfall is located near the road that passes through the gorge, which is very convenient for tourists. The water falls down from the lime terrace located at the intersection of the left tributary of the Kegety river with the river in the main valley. The height of the waterfall reaches 20 meters.

Alamedin Gorge

30 kilometers south of Bishkek, there is a favorite vacation spot for residents and guests of the capital - the Alamedin Gorge. For many decades in this natural health resort there has been a sanatorium "Warm Keys", which received its name due to natural sources. Multiple springs are the hallmark of the gorge. They are famous for their healing power. They form streams that flow into the Alamedin River, which flows at the bottom of a deep gorge. The beneficial effect of the alpine climate on health (the sanatorium is located at an altitude of 1800 meters above sea level) is known far beyond the borders of Kyrgyzstan, and healing pools with natural hot radon water, also offered by the Teplye Klyuchi sanatorium, are strongly recommended by doctors to their patients with a variety of diseases .

For recreation, there are equipped cottages, a dining room, a recreation area. There are huge areas that are perfect for spontaneous picnics and campsites for climbers, as well as for rock climbers.

Gorge Tale

Skazka Gorge is located near the village of Tosor. Its name fully justifies itself. You will find yourself in one of the miraculous fairy-tale cities. Here you will see a canyon called " Chinese Wall» 5 kilometers long, it seems to guard the peace of sleeping castles and amazing animals created by nature itself from red clay and sandstone - elephants, hippos, snakes and some completely unseen animals. And at the turn to this magical corner is beautiful place for rest and swimming, where on the way back you can relax, wash off the road dust, look into several small grottoes and suddenly notice that you spent not an hour by the water, as planned, but for half a day. From here you can see a simply extraordinary view of the majestic panorama of the lake and the blue caps of the mountains.

The gorge is distinguished by the riot of nature and diverse vegetation. Extraordinary beauty waterfalls, cascading down from rocky cliffs, do not cease to attract the attention of everyone who finds themselves in this area. One of the natural attractions of the gorge is Usachenko peak, which is 4650 meters high.

For recreation, there are equipped cottages, a dining room, a recreation area. There are huge areas that are perfect for spontaneous picnics and campsites for climbers, as well as for rock climbers.

Juuka Gorge

Dzhuuka Gorge (Zauka) is one of the most beautiful gorges of Terskey Ala-Too. It is located south of the village of Saru, which is 10 km west of the village of Pokrovka. Unlike the neighboring Terskey Ala-Too gorges, the Dzhuuka River in its upper part flows parallel to the main Terskey ridge for a considerable length and only approximately from the confluence of the Kashkasu turns to the north. Therefore, the length of the Juuka River (about 55 km) is longer than the neighboring gorges.
In the gorge of Juuka, more than in other gorges of Terskey, wild animals have been preserved. Herds of ibex - teke number up to a hundred heads. Perhaps this is the only gorge on the northern slope of Terskey, where, just like in the syrts, argali and stone martens are still found. In the forest zone of Juuki, there are many roe deer, and in the alpine meadows there are snowcocks, partridges and bearded partridges.

There are red rocks throughout the gorge. Here, the caravans of the Silk Road went along the river, descending from the harsh Bedel Pass and advancing through the high-mountainous deserts - syrts, where the famous Kumtor gold mine is now located. In the 7th century, in the valley of the Juuka River, there was a settlement of Christian Nestorians, immigrants from distant Syria. The Buddhists also left their sign here, having engraved their eternal mantra on a huge stone. The suffering and the sick found salvation in healing springs right tributary of the Dzhuuki - Dzhuukuchak. At the end of the XIX century in the caves of red rocks, as the swallow nest, the Kyrgyz fortress of the Bugin manap (ruler) Burumbay huddled.

Gorge Chon-Kyzyl-Suu

The Chon-Kyzyl-Suu gorge is amazingly beautiful. On the slopes with soft outlines, green meadows spread freely, crossed out in places by picturesque thickets of bushes and outcrops of red-colored rocks. At an altitude of 2000 m in the Chon-Kyzyl-Suu gorge, a dense forest begins, in which there are a lot of mushrooms and berries (barberry, wild rose, sea buckthorn, honeysuckle, strawberries, mountain ash, etc.). On the eastern slopes of the Chon-Kyzyl-Suu gorge on the right tributary of the Dzhyly-Suu of the Chon-Kyzyl-Suu river, there are outlets of hot mineral hydrogen sulfide springs Dzhyly-Suu with a water temperature of about 43 degrees. In the far southeast corner of the Chon-Kyzyl-Suu gorge rises the western peak of Armstrong. The slopes of the right tributary of the Archa-Tor forming the Chon-Kyzyl-Suu river are overgrown with tall grass.

In the upper reaches of this tributary there is a pass leading to the Jeti-Oguz gorge. Six landscape belts replace each other as you rise to the upper reaches of the gorge and to the closing ridge up to 4500 m high. The mild mountain-sea climate allows the Chon-Kyzyl-Suu gorge to be used for tourism in all seasons. A clay-colored water stream twisted with bundles rushes down with a roar, dragging large stones. The rocks covered with lichens in the Chon-Kyzyl-Suu gorge move the riverbed to the right, then to the left. The rocks look like monsters tightly clinging in a deadly fight. The Chon-Kyzyl-Suu River turns red in its lower reaches, where it breaks through a bed in the cliffs of red-colored rocks. From animals there are roe deer, wild boars, marmots, snowcocks, kekliks, pheasants. And also: ibexes, argali, snow leopards and huge vultures. In the upper reaches of the Chon-Kyzyl-Suu gorge there are picturesque passes: Ashuu-Tor (3900 m), leading to the syrts of the Central Tien Shan; 50 years of Kyrgyzstan (4600 m), Ulyanovsk (4490 m), Nadezhda (4450 m) and Zagadka (4400 m), through which lies the path to the Kolpakovsky glacier, one of the largest in Terskey Ala-Too. Its length is 13 kilometers. Through the passes of the starboard side of Kok-Bel and Asantukum, you can go to the Jeti-Oguz gorge.

On the wooded slopes of the left side of the Chon-Kyzyl-Suu gorge at an altitude of 2200 m, you can make an amusing trip in the Kichik-kyzyl-Suu gorge. Of great interest to nature lovers are the waterfalls: Shakyratma 20 m high in a narrow gorge surrounded by forest: Shatyly-cascade of waterfalls about 100 m high in the forest zone on the second right tributary of the Chon-Kyzyl-Suu river.

Ala-Archa Gorge

One of the most beautiful places in the Kyrgyz Republic, located just 30 kilometers from Bishkek, is the gorge of the Ala-Archa River. It is unique natural area. This natural Park, which occupies an area of ​​approximately 20 thousand hectares, includes all the landscape and climatic zones of Kyrgyzstan - from subalpine, amazingly beautiful juniper, spruce and birch forests, to high-mountainous, covered with eternal snows and glaciers.

In 1976, in the Ala-Archa gorge, in order to protect natural objects and unique monuments of nature, reproduction of rare and endangered species of plants and animals, as well as for the organization of cultural and educational recreation, development of tourism and mountaineering, the Kyrgyz State Natural Park "Ala-Archa" was created. This is one of the main attractions of Bishkek. Twenty minutes drive from Bishkek - and you find yourself in a mountain paradise: below you can see the whirlpool of a fast river, on the right and left alpine forbs under the shade of Tien Shan firs, in the distance the peaks of eternal glaciers turn white. Rich and varied animal world natural park"Ala-Archa". The largest of the predators living here, also listed in the "Red Book" - the snow leopard (in Kyrgyz - ilbirs), popularly called "a diamond in a pearl setting mountain peaks". And in the narrowest part of the gorge, the nesting place of the rarest bird of the blue bird, known in the legends of many peoples as the Bird of Happiness, lurked.

The highest points not only of the Ala-Archa gorge, but of the entire Kyrgyz ridge are Semenov-Tian-Shansky peak (4875 meters), Korona peak (4875 meters) and Svobodnaya Korea peak (4740 meters).

As for the tourist infrastructure of the natural park, there are comfortable cottages, a restaurant, and a car park. And the attendants are always glad to see guests from all over the world in Ala-Archa.

Chunkurchak Gorge

Just twenty-five kilometers from Bishkek, this tiny gorge lies to the east of the village of Tash Dobo. On the territory of the gorge is the Chunkurcha National Bio-Reserve, created to protect rare species of tulips, such as the "Royal Tulip", which can grow up to 15-18 cm, and the Zinaida Tulip, with bright red petals and green veins on the outside and yellow-gold inside. Flowers usually bloom in April and May. The gorge itself is very narrow at the entrance and not easy to find. Already inside, it opens up to form the larger Tahr Gorge, which is proud of its 200 meter cliff rising above the seething river. It is also famous for its pigeon waterfalls. a good place for climbing.

Issyk Ata Gorge

Issyk Ata is located 77 km from Bishkek, at an altitude of 1775 meters, the Kyrgyz Range. The mountain slopes are strewn with numerous mountain meadows, and in the neighborhood of the resort there are fruit and ornamental trees. The local water has attracted visitors for centuries and Issyk Ata has become a place of pilgrimage. In the 19th century, the locals expressed their gratitude, healing properties water while touching a large stone with a Buddha image that dates back to the 10th century. Tibetan inscriptions on the front of the boulder, and an eagle sculpture on top. Unfortunately, all this is complemented by modern graffiti. There is a legend about a young girl who bathed every day in the river. The magical powers of the mountains supported her youth and allowed her to remain as young and beautiful, despite the fact that her peers had grown old and wrinkled a long time ago. Nearby, they say, was the home of an Uzbek shaman, famous for her powers of healing, who lived here in seclusion until the 1950s, after her husband and son were killed as Basmachi rebels. Turkic nomads worshiped local springs and early Russian colonists stayed here for medical treatment, at a time when only yurts were the only available accommodation. The river is famous for its trout, which attracts many poachers. Another problem faced by the valley is illegal cutting of trees. The Soviet authorities built the first buildings here in 1928. The upper slopes are saturated with vegetation.

Shamsi Gorge

The Shamsi Gorge is considered by some to be the most beautiful of all in the Kyrgyz Range. It was chosen as the location for the "hunting house" of the former Iranian Khan, which was never used. The word "Shamsi" means "dark" in Farsi, but since the gorge has been called by this name for many years, it may be a mere coincidence. Nearby, a golden mask of an ancient beauty, Queen Shamsi, was found. two rivers, Shamsi and Tuyuk. (Do not confuse with the Tuyuk River in Kok Moinok). Forested slopes and high mountain plateaus are home to a variety of flora and fauna. In the summer, it is possible to cross the mountains and get to the side of Kochkorka.

Gorge Kara-Koyun

The Kara-Koyun gorge is located in the Naryn region, which is 110 km south of the city of Naryn, at an altitude of 3200 m above sea level. One of the rare monuments of ancient Asian architecture, Tash-Rabat, is located in this picturesque gorge.

Gorge Kara-Balta

Gorge Kara-Balta. Deep and narrow, located on the northern slope of the Kyrgyz Ala-Too, on the territory of the Zhaiyl district. Characteristic landscapes are forest, meadow-steppe at an altitude of 1900-2700 m. Archa, mountain ash, birch, willow, barberry and others grow. Alpine (3200-3600 m), glacial-nival (above 3600 m) belts. The upper part is used as pasture. The Bishkek-Osh highway passes through the gorge.

Karakol Gorge

Karakol Gorge It is located near the city of Karakol and cuts into the slopes of Terskey Ala-Too for 40 km, after which it runs into the glacial belt of the ridge. Starting from May, snowdrops, primroses, alpine asters, edelweiss, tulips, yellow trolls, white anemone, wild rose, sea buckthorn bloom in the gorge, turning the slopes into a blooming park. Climbing up the gorge, in a few hours you can move from the steppe foothills to mountain forests, light forests, subalpine and alpine meadows, and even to the kingdom of eternal snows with exposed rocks and glaciers.
In the upper reaches of the Karakol gorge, many mountains are concentrated, the peaks of which are located behind the snow line: Dzhigit (5130 m), Karakolsky (5281 m), Przhevalsky (4283 m), Zhukov (4450 m), Telman (4460 m), Dimitrova (4450 m), Fuchik (4210 m), Gasstelot (4350 m). In the summer, a climbing camp operates at their foot.
The objects of tourist interest are also: a complex of cascades-waterfalls located in the thickets of juniper in the Kurgan-Tor gorge; a powerful On-Tor waterfall, cut in two by a ledge of a rock, located in the gorge of the On-Tor River (the left tributary of the Karakol River); cascade of Sharkyratma waterfalls - in the gorge of the right tributary of the same name of the Kel-Tor River (right tributary of the Karakol River) and numerous madder lakes.

Oruu-Sai Gorge

The Oruu-Sai gorge is located 35 km from the city of Bishkek at an altitude of 2100 m above sea level. Mountain gorges, decorated with thickets of wild rose, barberry, wild raspberry and juniper, alternate with red clay talus. The ringing silence is filled only by the murmur of springs with crystal clear water and the chirping of birds.

Tamga Gorge

The Tamga Gorge is located on the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul, not far from the village of the same name. The gorge is distinguished by its unique landscape, when the green vegetation abruptly changes to scenic views boulders. The river of the same name flows in the Tamga gorge, along the banks of which there are burial mounds in places. The main attraction of the gorge is the mysterious Tamga-Tash stones with Buddhist inscriptions, where Tibetan pilgrims often come. There are three Tamga-Tash stones in the gorge, located at a distance of one kilometer from each other. Ancient Tibetan writings are written on the stones - prayers dating back to the 5th-1st centuries BC. Around the stones on the bushes you can see colored ribbons left Tibetan monks who spend several days at the stones with prayers. In addition to the Tamga-Tash stones, there are stones throughout the gorge depicting various animals and mysterious Tibetan symbols. stones feel very good. Tourists are attracted here not only by the sacred stones of Tamga-Tash, but also by such unusual landscapes, the wildlife of the surroundings of Tamga, calm solitude and harmony with nature. It is better to travel along the Tamga Gorge on bicycles or on horseback, as the locals do.

Canyons Konorchak

On the road from Bishkek to Issyk-Kul, 125 km from Bishkek, there are the Konorchak canyons. The path to them lies across the right bank of the Chu River, immediately after the Red Bridge and passes through the stone labyrinth of a dry river.

The canyons stretch for 200 km and it can take a long time to see them all, but it is enough to spend a few days exploring the impressive landscapes. Canyons are called by romantic names such as "Grand Canyon", "Bobsleigh" and "Skyscraper". Canyons were formed from one and a half to two million years, with the help of wind and water, to turn a plain plateau into giant stone columns, reaching up to 400-500 meters in height. One of the attractions of the canyons is the "dry waterfall" - these are the remains of a waterfall that flowed here many years ago, and, according to local folklore, emits a "black tear" every year.

The light clay of these places testifies that once Issyk-Kul Lake extended up to here. One of the peculiarities of the Konorchak canyon is that the plants here tend to grow very large, much larger than usual. One of the fascinating places in the canyon is dormant volcano, Segizkhan Shokny, 2.5-3 million years old, with slopes covered with fossilized seashells the size of a child's fist and lava remains.

During the summer months, the air in the canyon is hot, dry and dusty. And in winter, despite the fact that it can be cold, there is almost no rainfall during any season of the year. From 1980 to 1990, the canyons did not snow at all, and during the last decade of the twentieth century, snow fell only twice. If the temperature in Bishkek is 20 degrees below zero, in the Konorchak canyons +5 - although, recent times the climate in the canyons has become a little colder.

There are many legends about the canyons and local folklore states that any horse lost in the canyons will never come back alive. Despite this, many local residents canyons have become a favorite gorge among others in the Kyrgyz Range.

PASSES

The Ala-Bash pass (height 3965) is located in the Kongur-Olen valley in the Issyk-Kul region and extends from Balykchi to Bokonbaevo

The Ak-Beit pass (height 3282) is located in the Naryn region and extends from Naryn to Torugart

The Ala-Bel pass (height 3184) is located in the Chui region on the border with Talas and extends from Susamyr to Toktogul

Beruaylu pass (height 3268) is located in the Naryn region and extends from Baetov to Tash-Rabat

Baykurt pass (height 3268) is located in China and stretches from Torugart to Kashgar

The Dolon pass (height 3028) is located in the Naryn region and extends from Kochkor to Naryn

The Irkishtam pass (height 2841) is located in the Osh region and extends from Sary-Tash to Kashgar

The Kordai pass (height 1233) is located in Kazakhstan and stretches from Bishkek to Almaty

The Kyzart pass (height 2664) is located in the Naryn region and extends from Kochkor to Chaek

The Kyrk-kyz pass (height 3223) is located in the Naryn region and extends from Kyzyl Oi to Toktogul

The Kyndy pass (height 3102 is located in the Naryn region and extends from Ak-Sai to Kara-Sai

The Kulak-ashu pass (height 3268) is located in the Naryn region and extends from Baetov to Tash-Rabat

The Kerege-Tash pass (height 3684) is located in the Issyk-Kul region and extends from Naryn to Barskoon

The Kerurguntu pass (height 3907) is located in the Naryn region and extends from Ak-Sai to Kara-Sai

The Karakol pass (height 3485) is located in the Naryn region and extends from Susamyr to Kochkor

The Kara Koo pass (height 3907) is located in the Naryn region and extends from Ak-Talpa to Kazarman

The Kara Buura pass (height 3302) is located in the Talas region and extends from Talas to Jala-Abad

Karabuman pass (height 3907) is located in the Jalaabad region and extends from Kazarmanai to Jalal-Abad

Kaldama pass (height 3062 is located in the Jalalabad region and extends from Kazarman to Jala-Abad

The Kurtkal pass (height 3660) is located in the Naryn region and extends from Son-Kul to Ak-Taal

The Kara-Keche pass (height 3384) is located in the Naryn region and extends from Son-Kulai to Chaek

The Kalmak-Ashu pass (height 3446) is located in the Naryn region and extends from Sary-Bulak to Son-Kul

The Kyzyl-Art pass (height 4280) is located in the Osh region and extends from Sary-Tash to Takjikistan

The Kyzyl Bel pass (height 2484) is located in the Naryn region and extends from Naryn to At-Bashi

The Kubiki pass (height 3907) is located in the Chui region and extends from the Boom Gorge to Kochkor

The Otmok pass (height 3330) is located in the Talas region and extends from Susamyr to Talas

Pass 33 Parrot (height 3133) is located in the Naryn region and extends from Son-Kul to Naryn

The San-Tash pass (height 3907) is located in the Issyk-Kul region and extends from Tyup to Jirgalen

The Tuu-ashu pass (height 3586) is located in the Chui region and extends from Karabalt to Susamyr

The Tash-rabat pass (height 3968) is located in the Naryn region and extends from Tash-rabat to Torugart

The Torugart pass (height 3752) is located in the Naryn region and stretches from Naryn to Kashgar

Taldyk pass (height 3619 is located in the Osh region and extends from Osh to Sary-Tash

Teo morun pass (height 3536) is located in the Osh region and extends from Sary-Tash to Irkishtam

The Terek-Davan pass (height 4131) is located in the Osh region and extends from Gulcha to Irkishtam

The Terek pass (height 3907) is located in the Talas region and extends from Toktogulay to Talas

The Tezduu suu pass (height 1971) is located in the Jalal-Abad region and extends from Kyzyl-oy to Toktogul

The Shamsi pass (height 3573) is located in the Chui region and extends from Shamsi to Kochkor

The Chapchima pass (height 3822) is located in the Issyk-Kul region and extends from Karakol to Enilchek

The Chiyiryk pass (height 2408) is located in the Osh region and extends from Osh to Gulchi

This part of our journey through East Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan will focus on the Grigorievsky Gorge or Chon Ak-Suu. It received its first name from the village, spread out at the entrance to the gorge, the second - from the river flowing through it.

Gorge from the highway along north coast Issyk-Kul and the village of Grigorievka are separated by only a few kilometers of a dirt road.

It is located in the Kungei Alatau mountains, which are part of mountain system Northern Tien Shan and serve as a natural border between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

Here, at the foot of the Tien Shan firs, the Chon Ak Suu river carries its fast waters to Issyk-Kul. Its name is translated into Russian as "Big White Water".

To say that the Grigorievskoye Gorge is popular with tourists is to say nothing. This is one of the most famous gorges in the Issyk-Kul region. It appears in the vast majority of reports. I remember the Baikal analogue - Shamanka rock on Olkhon.

Tourists get here from the recreation centers of the northern Issyk-Kul on paid tours or get on their own in their cars, hitches or taxis. At the peak of the season, there is a real "passage yard".

We were lucky to be here out of season. Three cars with tourists, several yurts with souvenirs and koumiss, not completely installed, and children jumping with golden eagles under the wheels of a car - all that was met on the way to the highlands.

Therefore, no one prevented us from admiring the beauties of the mountains.

After 10 km of the way along a narrow gorge, the mountains parted and at an altitude of 2200 meters the expanses of alpine meadows opened up.

This is the territory of summer alpine pastures (At-Jailoo). There are fewer tourists here, but there are plenty of yurts of shepherds and cattle.

Never seen so many foals before.

In search of a place to park, we climbed higher and higher along the gorge. We passed two lakes along the way. They did not stop at the lower one because of the proximity of the shepherds' camp.

The shores of the middle lake turned out to be swampy.

The road further deteriorated significantly and did not make sense. It began to get dark and, judging by the map, the forest was ending. Before the next steep descent, we turned around and returned to the previously looked after secluded place near the bridge over the Chon Ak Suu river.

Having broken the parking lot, we walked a little around the district.

On the bridge, shepherds drive cattle to pastures. 7 km north of it is the border with Kazakhstan.

And behind the peaks in the south was Issyk-Kul.

In the growing dusk they went to bed. The second day in Kyrgyzstan turned out to be very eventful.

During the day, the sun shone in the gorge, and the air temperature fluctuated around +20 degrees C. At night, it dropped to +2 degrees C. Height affected - 2500 meters. If for me, my second half and daughter, such a temperature is not critical. That's for the younger such a cold is undesirable.

We spent the whole morning thinking. Relaxing, eating, walking.

I really didn't want to leave here. Beautiful peaceful places and a good place to park.

The weather put an end to doubts. Blowing all night and morning, the wind brought clouds and began to drizzle. We had to return to Issyk-Kul.

In order to diversify the return route, we decided to lay it along the neighboring Semenovsky Gorge, which is separated from Grigoryevsky by the Kokbel Pass 2360 meters high.

The Semenov Gorge itself was not impressive. There are no such gorges as in Grigoryevsky, and anthropogenic influence more. Most of the road through it has been paved, a power line has been laid out, and permanent livestock farms and camp sites have been built. The bad weather did not encourage photography.

Therefore, without unnecessary delays in the rain, we rounded the eastern tip of Issyk-Kul and stopped for the night in Karakol. In the following posts I will talk about the sights of this city. And at the end of this post, a few panoramas of the Grigorievsky Gorge.

On the northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul, 40 km from the Cholpon-Ata resort, there is the Semenovskoye Gorge - one of the most beautiful places Issyk-Kul region. Its length is about 35 km. Ak-Suu flows along the bottom of the gorge - a stormy mountain river with clear glacial water, and majestic Tien Shan firs rise on its slopes. In summer and spring, the local clean air is filled with the aromas of alpine herbs.

The Semenov Gorge is one of the main attractions of Kyrgyzstan, it is one of the must-see excursions for those who have a rest in Issyk-Kul. In summer, yurts are often set up here, where everyone can taste the delicious dishes of the Kyrgyz national cuisine - koumiss and beshbarmak. For lovers active rest horseback riding through the gorge is organized here.

Currently, the abandoned health center "Chernobyl" is located in the Semenovsky Gorge. Sometimes athletes who come to Kyrgyzstan for training camps stop here for several days to train and live in harsher conditions (rarefied air and mountainous terrain).

Grigorievskoe gorge

Grigorievskoe gorge (Chon Ak-Suu gorge) is located 60 km from the center of the coast of the city of Cholpon-Ata. It is one of the most picturesque and beautiful places in Issyk-Kul. The valley of the gorge stretches along the Kungei Ala-Too ridge and runs parallel to the coastal line of the small lake Issyk-Kul. A crystal clear full-flowing river flows along the bottom of the Chon Ak-Suu. The most beautiful Tien Shan firs in the world grow in these places. The mountain slopes of the Grigoryevsky gorge are covered with bright red mountain poppy, spreading along the valley with a magnificent carpet. Here, tourists can admire the unique pristine nature, over which neither time nor people have power.

There are three alpine lakes in Chon Ak-Suu, behind which forests turn into magnificent alpine meadows. Tourists are offered a lot of entertainment here, the most popular of which are horseback riding and wonderful hiking. Also in the Grigorievskoe Gorge you can drink koumiss - the national healing drink, listen to amazing folk music and take an active part in setting up the yurt. This place is perfect for an active holiday with family and friends.

Jety-Oguz Gorge

Jety-Oguz is the name of a number of tourist natural objects. First of all, this is an amazingly beautiful rock ensemble on the shore of Issyk-Kul.

The literal translation of the name from the Kyrgyz language means "seven bulls". However, the softness of the rocks and the erosive effect of the winds led to the fact that there were more than seven large conglomerates. Now it is already ten, and according to some eyewitnesses, even eleven "bulls".

The rocks acquire special beauty on sunny days. Red stones burn directly against the background of the surrounding greenery - it is here that Tien Shan spruce trees grow sometimes more than sixty meters high. Most of the trees are over 100 years old.

The same name often means the entire Jet-Oguz canyon. The gorge begins 28 kilometers west of the city of Karakol as a beautiful green alpine valley and ends with a high mountain plateau.

Boom Gorge

Boo "mskoe gorge" league is located 112 km from the city of Bishkek and is located in the middle reaches of the Chu River, separating the ranges of the Kyrgyz Ala-Too and Kungei Ala-Too. The length of the gorge is about 30 kilometers. The Boom Gorge is a kind of visiting card on the way to Issyk-Kul Lake. A railway line built in 1948 passes through the Boom Gorge, connecting Bishkek and Balykchy.

The first to cross the Boom Gorge, in 1850, was a Russian explorer and traveler XIX century Semenov Pyotr. After that, it got its name - Boom, which means "Evil Spirit" in translation. Semyon wrote the following in his notes about him: "This gorge is a deadly and dangerous trap. We hardly moved along our path." At the entrance to the Boom Gorge, there is a source - a local landmark, which serves as a stop for travelers before a heavy climb. The gorge itself is a truly breathtaking view. Nature in it plays with all the colors of the rainbow. Bright, flashy colors of the mountains, stretching into the endless blue sky on one side. And on the other - all the power of the Chu River, the gentle forms of which gradually turn into a canyon. Coniferous greenery envelops the motley-orange expanse of the majestic mountains.

Along the way, you can see statues of deer, leopards, golden eagles. Also, you can often see wild birds here - for example, a hawk, rapidly overtaking prey. The Boom Gorge has become very popular among rafting enthusiasts. Various cafes along the way will give you the opportunity to take a break from the road.

Sights of Issyk-Kul

Cholpon-Ata is a convenient base from where you can make trips to interesting places both on the northern and southern shores of Issyk-Kul: Grigorievskoe gorge, Semenovskoye gorge, hot springs, Karakol, Jeti-Oguz, Barskoon waterfall and others. Of course, it is most convenient to do this on your own transport, since public transport does not go to the sights, but only to the villages on the coast. In principle, you can also hitchhike, there is good traffic along the lake, but towards the mountains it greatly decreases, especially in the low season.

But there is also an option to book a tour, which we took advantage of. In summer, excursions will find you themselves :-) , and in May you will have to look for offers yourself. The office of the travel agency organizing trips is located in the center of Cholpon-Ata, not far from the Narodny supermarket. In the low season, you still need to manage to get on the day of the excursion, we were lucky that we were just about to go to the Grigorievskoye Gorge and hot springs.

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The cost of the tour is 500 soms, plus 200 soms are asked for bathing in thermal springs. It starts at 14.00, when the minibus collects everyone from boarding houses and sanatoriums, and takes about 30 km towards Karakol along the highway along the lake. In the village of Grigorievka we turn left towards the mountains. The asphalt ends immediately and a dusty primer begins up the gentle and wide valley.

At the entrance to the valley there is a post where they take a fee for entering the territory. In a few minutes we reach the bridge over the river, and then we go on foot. Up to this point, you can drive on any transport, such as us on a Ford minibus. But to go further, you need an all-wheel drive vehicle!

Rocks in the gorge

Tien Shan firs grow in the gorge

small waterfall

river valley

They say that in the summer it is not overcrowded, there are yurts, they constantly and persistently offer horseback riding, barbecue and all that stuff. Now, in May, yurts are only assembled or they don’t exist at all (although it’s clear that there is a camp), and bored boys somehow sluggishly offer to ride a horse on the machine, but no one expressed a desire.

Road in the Grigorievsky gorge

I was always amazed - how do these trees grow on stones?

Rocks with trees growing on them

There are a lot of trekking routes in this area, and indeed, the places are excellent - clean mountain air, a river, even places for a tent are even and ready :-)

Unfortunately, we walked up the gorge quite a bit - they called everyone back in order to still have time to visit the hot springs. The bridge over the river, to which we were taken by minibus

View of the Grigorievskoe gorge

Hot springs and view of the southern coast of Issyk-Kul

The method of transporting livestock in Kyrgyz

Mountains Kyungoy-Ala-Too

For the first time in these days, the mountains fully appeared because of the gray clouds, exposing their pristine beauty and playing with tints of color from the foot to the top.

Mountains on the northern coast of Issyk-Kul

Well, almost a picture of Roerich turned out ;-)

Lake Issyk-Kul

From thermal springs no such kind! And from Cholpon-Ata too, but here there is where to take a look and marvel at the grandeur of the lake and the mountains surrounding it.

On the northern coast of Issyk-Kul

"Whoa caught this!"

Lake Issyk-Kul in clear weather

In this place, Lake Issyk-Kul is no longer so wide, so the mountains on the southern shore are clearly visible.

Mountains on the south coast of the lake

By the way, the northern coast of the lake is framed by the Kungei-Ala-Too ridge (meaning "motley mountains facing the sun"), and on the southern coast by the Terskey Ala-Too ridge ("Terskey"-opposite).

Terskey-Ala-Too Ridge - view from the northern coast of Issyk-Kul

Both of these ranges are part of the Tien Shan, one of the highest mountain ranges in the world, located in Kyrgyzstan, China, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Tien Shan mountains and Issyk-Kul lake

The water in this place is not as clean as in Cholpon-Ata (which is strange, maybe the bottom is somewhat different), but nevertheless it is transparent-cold and perfectly refreshing!

Waters of Issyk-Kul

And here it's just all the stages of life and a stream that flows into the lake. As you can see, in May not all the trees in Issyk-Kul are green.

Nature of Issyk-Kul

This is where our acquaintance with Lake Issyk-Kul ends, just as the the May holidays- it's time to go home. I want to definitely come back here and walk around those mountains that are on the south coast, as well as visit southern part countries where there are cities with such cryptic names Osh, Jalal-Abad and the Pamir Highway.

Calm on the coast